Teesside councils failed to collect more than £12m in council tax in the last financial year, new figures have revealed.

Middlesbrough Council had one of the worst rates for collecting council tax in the country with the authority failing to gather £4,292,000 in council tax in 2017/18.

That meant £1 in every £14 went uncollected.

Only Blackpool Council and the Council of the Isles of Scilly had worse collection rates when it came to unitary authorities.

Stockton failed to collect £4,090,000 while Redcar and Cleveland was owed £3,738,000.

The figures were unveiled following a Freedom of Information request to Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland Councils.

Middlesbrough’s rate for council tax collection came in at 92.8% in 2017/18 - compared with the national average in 2017/18 of 97.1%.

But a spokesman for Middlesbrough Council said the actual collection figure was much higher as these figures only showed what was paid in that financial year and not what was paid later.

He said: “These figures relate to “in year” collection rates - while Middlesbrough Council’s overall council tax collection rate is around 98%, with significant sums continuing to be collected following the year in question.”

And Cllr Nicky Walker, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for finance and governance, said the issue was not one of a council’s ability to collect but more about people’s ability to pay.

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She added: “Changes in government policy have meant that thousands of people in Middlesbrough – frequently those on the lowest incomes and least able to pay – found themselves having to pay council tax for the first time.

“We have adopted a number of measures to address these issues, including the recent decision to bring the revenues and benefits service back under council control.

“We will also continue to work with a range of partner organisations to provide help and support to those in need, and where possible assist them in paying their council tax bills.

“I would also encourage those on low incomes – whether they are working or not – to apply to see if they are eligible for council tax relief.”

Councillor Nicky Walker

Across the three Teesside councils, £12,120,000 went uncollected from the last financial year.

Stockton Council collected 95.83% of its council tax in 2017/18 - a rate which is still below the national average.

Councillor Jim Beall, deputy leader of Stockton Council, said: “Our council tax collection rate of around 96% for the last financial year marks us out as one of the strongest performing local authorities in the Tees Valley in this regard.

“Our long-term collection rate – based over the last five years – stands at 99%, which is evidently very positive and means we have been consistently performing better than the national average.

Cllr Christopher Massey, cabinet member for resources on Redcar and Cleveland Council, said the council used a “range of pro-active measures” such as telephone calls and text messages to ensure council tax was paid by residents.

He added: “If debts remain after this initial process, the council will chase outstanding debts through a court order.”